I personally think until some gears come to the XL-7, 32s and 33s are a little bit of overkill. Especially if you use it for DD.

Just thought on the gears thing Has any one looked at swaping at A/T trans from an 04 in with 5 speed?  If what I've found is right the 04's have a R&P of 4.3 

Like I said just a thought.
Geogre

What if were allready running an 04?

I thought 04's had 5.13's in them... Either way 1st gear is only good till 5mph then it shifts into second around 2500rpms. Not sure what the ratio is, but it's low. Lo-range still feels too high though, even with stock shoes.

Yeah George, that is what I have been looking for. An '03 - '04 manual to swap out with my auto.

Been putting bugs in the junk yard man's ears . . . I would like to buy an '04 with manual, leather (wrecked ofcourse) then change out my dash and steering wheel and the trans . . . then have the steel front diff housing and I would have a donor engine as well for the long haul.

xoffroad...
the '04 does have the 5.13's in the AUTO trans but the manual was 4.3 . . .

2004 A/T TRANSMISSION   1st  3.520   2nd   2.043   3rd   1.401   4th   1.000    5th  0.717   Reverse   3.224  Final gear raito 4.300

2001 A/T Transmission      1st    2.826   2nd  1.493   3rd  1.000   4th    0.689    5th  N/A         Reverse 2.703 Final gear raito 5.125


As you can see it's more than just frist gear    If you were to put in an 04 A/T and keep your 5.12's this would set you up to run 32 or 33's right about on the money.
How ever this still does nothing for lockers or any thing like that 
George

the '04 does have the 5.13's in the AUTO trans but the manual was 4.3 . . .

Not if you look at suzuki's www site?  A/T and M/T listed with 4.3 R&P

link to Suzuki info on XL-7

http://www.globalsuzuki.com/automobile/xl7/spec.html

IT that is the case George what if we changed out the auto trans with an '04, that would solve our gearing problems with the '01-'03 right?

yes it would be but what else would need to be changed??? ECU?  when rewirering?   Still trying to confrom all this.  But I feel this would be the way to go.  Then later on if you wanted to step up to 35's you could just get a frond 9" with 5.8 R&P 

George